Origin and recording

"Hunted Down" features lyrics written by frontman Chris Cornell and music written by guitarist Kim Thayil. Thayil on the song:

That song wasn't supposed to be as heavy sounding as it turned out. We just started jamming on the riff and it took on the 'noise rock' dimensions, kind of a rhythmic thing. And that solo is a noise solo. It's very dissonant.[1]

Release and reception

"Hunted Down" was released as a single in 1987 with a B-side titled "Nothing to Say", which can also be found on Screaming Life and the band's greatest hits compilation, A-Sides (1997). The single was pressed on blue vinyl as a limited edition with only 500 copies made, and has since become a Soundgarden collector's item. Oddly, "Nothing to Say", rather than "Hunted Down", appeared on A-Sides. Kim Thayil jokingly explained the replacement with "that's about the level of communication the band was at back then".[2]

"Hunted Down" was the first song on Sub Pop's "hold music" tape. According to guitarist Kim Thayil, "You would call them up, and when they put you on hold you heard 'Hunted Down'."[1] Upon hearing the song, record labels began contacting the band, which eventually led to the band signing with A&M Records.

The single was reissued as a limited edition, orange 7" record for Record Store Day on April 17, 2010.[3]

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